Governor Rotimi Amaechi is heading for a
Federal High Court today to challenge his suspension from the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) by its National Working Committee(NWC).
The governor has assembled a legal team, “most of who have voluntarily offered to defend democracy and the rule of law”.
But, his opponents are not taking it
easy, going by a plot to cause disaffection in Amaechi’s camp. Some
forces in the Presidency are mounting pressure on his deputy, Tele
Ikuru, an engineer, to abandon his boss.
The forces have promised to make Ikuru the governor, if he can cooperate with them to impeach Amaechi.
But Ikuru is standing firm, “because he prefers loyalty than being a traitor”.
Amaechi was suspended on Monday as a
member of the PDP by the NWC without any notice of infraction. He has
rejected the action, saying he got no fair hearing.
There have been attempts to provoke
Amaechi’s camp into violence in Rivers State, but the governor has
decided to pursue his case through legal process, it was learnt.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said:
“Amaechi has advised all his supporters and aides not to engage in any
form of violence, no matter the provocation.
“When some thugs imported from
neighbouring states and ex-militants almost overran the Government House
in Port Harcourt about two weeks ago, the governor told security men
not to fire a shot.
“To avoid mayhem, the governor left the Government House”
Amaechi is expected to file papers before a Federal High Court today.
“Amaechi’s position is that democracy
can only thrive where the rule of law is allowed to take its normal
course. He has gone through the wheel of justice in the past and he
won,” another source said.
Ikuru, who is under pressure to dump
Amaechi was the deputy governor to ex-Governor Celestine Omehia in 2007
before the election was nullified by the court.
Ikuru survived the crisis and paired up with Amaechi in 2011 for a fresh mandate.
He is being asked to return to his pre-2007 political camp “to deal with” his boss.
Another source said: “They are dangling
the carrots of being a governor in a life time to Ikuru as part of the
plot to impeach Amaechi.
“These anti-Amaechi forces believe that
since Ikuru is also a force to reckon with in Rivers State politics, it
will be an easy ride to impeach the governor if the deputy gives his
consent.
“They are also talking of a realignment of forces which would enable Ikuru to run for one term as a governor from 2015 to 2019.
“Ikuru has however decided to stand by his boss. He has not made any commitment to the anti-Amaechi forces.
“I can tell you that so far, this is the
plot. They are talking to lawmakers, they also want to lobby the deputy
governor to abandon his boss.”
As at press time, moves by anti-Amaechi
forces to retrieve the ballots of the last Friday Nigeria Governors’
Forum election have failed.
They have been searching for the ballot
papers for forensic analysis of those who voted for Amaechi and the
Governor of Plateau State, Chief David Jang.
A source in the anti-Amaechi camp said:
“No one is ready to release the ballot papers. But, they have forgotten
that a court can compel the NGF secretariat to make the ballot papers
available for examination.
“We may end up going to court to challenge the election and demand for the examination of the ballot papers.
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